Licenses and Accreditation

Main Laboratory — Downtown
CAP# 2461701
CLIA# 50D0664403
WA DOH MTSC.FS# 529

Point-of-Care Laboratories — Hospital, Clinics
CAP# 7190103
CLIA# 50D1001372
WA DOH MTSC.FS# 4176

Bainbridge Island Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0632166
Bellevue Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0889256
Edmonds Family Medicine Regional Medical Center – MTS CLIA # 50D0629827
Federal Way Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0629153
Issaquah Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0630045
Kirkland Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0630387
Lynnwood Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0630516
University Village Medical Center Laboratory — MTS CLIA # 50D0906703

Phlebotomy

The phlebotomy staff is the clinical laboratory's "front-line professionals" as they are in regular contact with patients throughout the medical center. These employees are licensed by the state of Washington and trained to perform phlebotomy for all the blood tests performed by the clinical laboratory. Phlebotomists are located throughout Virginia Mason, including the hospital campus, downtown clinics and satellite clinic locations. The phlebotomy staff performs hundreds of blood collections each day at the highest level of performance.

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Laboratory Specimen Processing

The clinical laboratory's central specimen processing staff triage all patient specimens that arrive in the laboratory for testing, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This group is critical to the operations of the lab as they verify physician orders, ensuring the correct tests are performed and that the proper specimen is submitted for analysis. The clinical laboratory test menu consists of more than 2,000 tests and each day the laboratory receives more than 1,000 patient samples. The laboratory specimen processing staff coordinates the initial process for all of these requests to ensure accurate and timely patient testing results.

Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics

The clinical microbiology laboratory provides microbiology services in aerobic and anaerobic bacteriology, mycology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, virology and molecular diagnosis of infectious disease. Other testing includes: viral load testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and autoimmune disease detection. The department works closely with Virginia Mason's Infectious Disease Services and Infection Prevention Department. Microbiology is directed by a PhD who specializes in clinical microbiology and has extensive experience and training in general microbiology, antibiotic susceptibility testing and molecular infectious diseases. The Microbiology Department is staffed by medical technologists and microbiology specialists who can provide information and guidance regarding available testing methods and indications.

Chemistry

The clinical chemistry laboratory utilizes advanced technology to provide analysis for routine and special chemistry requests, including serological testing. Chemistry provides around-the-clock testing for high volume analytes and those requiring rapid turn-around times. Other chemistry tests include those used in the diagnosis of endocrine disorders and infectious diseases. The chemistry laboratory offers hundreds of different tests ranging from routine tests such as glucose and cholesterol to specialized tests for HIV and Hepatitis screening. The Chemistry Department is staffed by medical technologists and chemistry specialists who can provide information and guidance regarding available testing methods and indications.

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Hematology/Coagulation/Urinalysis

The hematology laboratory utilizes the most current instrument and techniques to offer a wide variety of tests to aid in the diagnosis of blood disorders. In addition, the hematology lab performs extensive coagulation and urinalysis testing. The laboratory works closely with Virginia Mason's Hematology and Oncology Department to provide up-to-date testing for the diagnosis of leukemia, lymphomas and other hematopoietic or immunological disorders. Hematology utilizes emerging technologies to provide rapid detection and therapeutic options for coagulation or bleeding disorders. Urinalysis testing is performed around the clock to assist physicians in diagnosis of urinary tract infections and systemic metabolic disorders such as kidney or liver diseases. The department is staffed by medical technologists and specialists who can provide information and guidance regarding available testing methods and indications.

Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry utilizes advanced techniques for counting and examining microscopic particles, such as cells and chromosomes, by suspending them in a stream of fluid and passing them by an electronic detection apparatus. Flow cytometry is routinely used in the diagnosis of blood and tissue cancers, but has many other applications in both research and clinical practice. The Flow Cytometry Department is staffed by medical technologists and specialists who can provide information and guidance regarding available testing methods and indications. The department is directed by a pathologist who specializes in flow cytometry and has extensive experience correlating findings with anatomic pathology test results.

Point-of-Care Testing

The point-of-care testing team provides patients bed-side testing in the hospital and clinic settings. Testing includes finger stick glucose, urinalysis, pregnancy and rapid strep, all in the clinic setting. In addition, tests performed in the hospital setting include blood chemistries, blood gases and clotting tests. Results can be viewed immediately at the time of testing by the health care provider for rapid action. The point-of-care team consists of medical technologists and medical laboratory technicians who are responsible for training other health care providers to perform tests, monitoring testing protocols, evaluating equipment, and ensuring quality results are performed at the patient bedside and at Virginia Mason clinics.

Transfusion Support Services

Transfusion support services is staffed by transfusion support technicians who are active 24 hours a day, seven days a week providing blood products to health care teams for the care of our patients. The transfusion support service staff coordinates and distributes multiple types of blood products provided by Puget Sound Blood Center to patients undergoing surgery or other therapeutic procedures at Virginia Mason. In addition, they coordinate the distribution of tissue to be transplanted to patients undergoing surgical procedures.

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